Contents

	Issue 4 - Autumn 2001
	A new hand-portable VHF/DSC radio
	The Ship Portable Radio Licence
	New information requested on the Ship Fixed Radio Licence form
	Have you got the right type of MMSI number?
	New Maritime Radio Licence products
	News from the MCA
	Q&A
	Sources of information

Introduction

Welcome to the fourth issue of the AirWaves newsletter, my first as manager of the section. Firstly, I would like to apologise for the delay between the last issue and this one, which is due to our heavy current workload combined with staffing difficulties.

This issue, like the last one, contains important information about current as well as forthcoming changes to licensing for UK Maritime Radio users. The subjects covered include: a new portable VHF/DSC radio, the introduction of new Maritime Radio Licence products, the replacement of the Maritime Transportable Licence AND news of a reduced Maritime Radio Licence fee.

Please remember that we as a Section and the Agency as a whole value your feedback, whether connected to this newsletter or to answer enquiries particular to the Agency's work within the Maritime Radio sector.

Mike Martin,
Manager,
Aeronautical and Maritime Section

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A new hand-portable VHF/DSC radio

A new hand-held VHF/DSC radio was launched at the London Boat Show in January this year, designed primarily for use on vessels under 25ft in length. The Agency recognises that this radio equipment represents an exciting development in safety-related Maritime communications, and will enable smaller craft to participate in the GMDSS.

These radios offer a DSC Distress Alerting facility for small craft operating close to shore. The DSC alert message includes identification in the form of the MMSI of the transmitting unit and can also give date, time and position if fed from a GPS receiver.

Whilst the MCA has given the go-ahead for these to be used on UK vessels, they have yet to gain acceptance with other European administrations. The Agency has modified its ship radio licence procedures and produced a UK Radio Interface Requirement, as a matter of urgency, in order to facilitate the introduction of this equipment on the UK market.

HM Coastguard specifically requested the ability to differentiate between VHF/DSC alerts sent from fixed and portable equipment. Obviously, due to its portability, this equipment can, and very likely will, be moved from vessel to vessel. To this end, we have reserved a block of MMSI numbers (235 900 000 to 235 999999 inclusive) for the excl-usive use of hand-held VHF/DSC portable radio equipment. It is also important to note that it is a legal requirement for every one of these radios to be indelibly marked with the MMSI number that has been programmed into it.

Whereas the standard MMSI number is issued to a particular vessel and its details registered on the UK licensing database as well as the ITU MARS database, the Portable MMSI number will be registered to the radio unit itself until the Agency is notified of the unit's destruction.

Under no circumstance should a vessel MMSI number be programmed into these portable radios.

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The Ship Portable Radio Licence

The introduction of the new hand-portable DSC/VHF radio onto the UK market in 2001 coincided with the introduction of planned changes to the Transportable Maritime Radio licensing procedures. These changes have been made to simplify the licence procedure for the new radios as well as to address issues that have been raised with us in the past, such as use of an EPIRB or a PLB under a Transportable Maritime Radio Licence.

After talks with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and HM Coastguard, the Agency has changed the format and processing of the Transportable Maritime Radio Licence. Since July 2001 the Ship Portable Radio Licence covers either a standard VHF or a VHF/DSC hand portable radio as well as covering the use of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and/or an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

The Agency is pleased to announce that it has taken this opportunity to launch the Ship Portable Radio Licence with a lower fee. The licence fee for the new Ship Portable Radio Licence is £15 per year. This represents a reduction of 25% when compared to the old Transportable Maritime Radio Licence fee, which is in line with the Agency's commitment of "ensuring that the radio licence is in no way a barrier to people utilising the Maritime Radio service".

However, it must be remembered that this licence is primarily designed to cover the use of portable equipment on more than one vessel. If you have purchased a portable radio to be used as the sole radio equipment for use on one vessel only, it would be better to apply for the Ship Fixed Radio Licence as it registers important details about you and your vessel on Search and Rescue Databases

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New information requested on the Ship Fixed Radio Licence form

It has been explained in a previous issue of this newsletter that the maritime radio service is regulated on an international rather than a national basis, and that the rules pertaining to maritime radio are laid out in the International Radio Regulations. The Radio Regulations contain the rules both for vessels and national administrations on how maritime radio should be used and regulated. They are usually amended and updated at World Radio Conferences.

The particular Article that instructs national admin-istrations to collect this information is Article S20 as amended by Resolution 340 WRC-97 (at the 1997 World Radio Conference). Resolution 340 was introduced in order to supply search and rescue authorities with the information needed to provide the most effective assistance to a ship in distress and to assess the suitability of other vessels that may be in a position to assist.

The ITU has requested that the UK administration ensures that full particulars of ship radio stations onboard UK vessels are included on the international Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval Service (MARS) database. The latest revision of the Ship Radio Licence application form now requests information such as "lifeboats available", "gross tonnage" etc. in order to comply with the ITU instructions.

The MCA and the ITU have requested that the Agency ensures (where available) that the "24 hour emergency contact details" and where available "an alternative telephone number" are supplied for ALL vessels. If a licensee cannot supply details they must state that "none are available". The information collected complements the information supplied directly to HMCG via the CG66 form and also acts as a safety net for people who are not aware of or do not use CG66.

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Have you got the right kind of MMSI number?

Recently in AMS we have had instances of vessels fitted with VHF/DSC equipment having their equipment programmed only with the "satellite" equipment variant MMSI number. We felt that it would be helpful to explain what the different variations of MMSI numbers are and what they look like, in order to ensure that you haven't got the wrong kind programmed into your radio.

MMSI numbers are not just used for VHF/DSC equipment or even just for equipment on vessels. Obviously, if a vessel fitted with DSC radio needs to communicate with a Coast Station, that Coast Station also needs to have DSC equipment and an MMSI number. There are also variations of MMSI numbers issued for programming into different types of Maritime communications equipment.

Country of origin

All Ship Station MMSI numbers begin with the Maritime Identification Digits (MID). This MID identifies the vessel's country of origin and is the first three digits of the MMSI number. For UK registered or owned vessels this can only be 232, 233, 234 or 235, as these are the only MIDs registered to the UK administration. If you have a UK registered or owned vessel and the MMSI number in your DSC radio has a different MID to those mentioned it is not a UK MID and a correct MMSI number must be acquired.

Equipment variations

MMSIs can also differentiate the equipment being used. Numbers ending in zero (known as "trailing zeros") for example are reserved for vessels carrying Inmarsat satellite equipment.

A vessel equipped with Inmarsat C satellite equipment will always have one trailing zero at the end of its MMSI, for example 235123450

A vessel equipped with Inmarsat B and/or M satellite equipment will require an MMSI with three trailing zeros, for example 235123000.

With the advent of the new Portable VHF/DSC radios, the Agency has taken the decision to issue only MMSI numbers beginning with the MID 235 followed by 9 to this equipment, for example 235912345. This is to enable HMCG to differentiate between DSC alerts sent from fixed or from portable radio equipment. If you have 2359 in your fixed VHF/DSC radio or a number beginning with something else in your portable VHF/DSC radio they must be changed.

Other variations

Group MMSI numbers issued to vessels will always begin with a single zero followed by the MID, for example 023412345.

Coastal Station Radio bases are always issued with an MMSI number beginning with two zeros followed by the MID, for example 002321234

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New Maritime Radio Licence products

Maritime Radio Suppliers Licence

The Agency launched the Maritime Radio Suppliers Licence at the Southampton Boatshow this year. The licence is designed to enable companies involved in the installation, repair, servicing and retail of maritime radio equipment to carry out their business effectively. The application form RA389 is available on the Agency website at www.radio.gov.uk or in hard copy from the Agency library on tel: 020 7211 0502/05. If you require further information about the licence please contact AMS on 020 7211 0215 or e-mail us at AMS@ra.gsi.gov.uk

Coastal Station Radio (CSR) Training Establishment Licence

Previously the Agency has issued Ship Radio Licences modified by a very strict Notice of Variation to land based training establishments teaching and examining people in the use of maritime radio equip-ment. It was always understood that this would be used as a stopgap measure in order to enable schools to operate effectively whilst the Agency developed a suitable licence. Unfortunately, this practice has caused inconsistencies in the information that the Agency supplies to the Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval Service (MARS) database at the ITU, hence the need for a licence tailored to the needs of training establishments.

By December 2001 the issue of this type of licence will cease and training schools will be required to apply for the new "CSR Training Establishment" licence when their present licence expires. This will ensure that land based establish-ments do not appear on the Maritime Mobile List V (List of Ship Stations) and will appear on the correct Coastal Station List VII as required by the ITU.

The cost of the CSR Training Establishment licence will be £50 per year.

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News from the MCA

To owners of small craft buying maritime radio equipment from 2001.

(This article is taken from the text of a notice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.)

The UK has come to the end of the interim period between the old National Type Approval scheme for Marine Radio Equipment and the new European Type Approval and Conformance schemes. Changes in approval schemes only affect new equipment being sold to a customer and do not affect equipment already fitted to vessels. This document outlines the current situation regarding the acceptability of new equipment for UK vessels.

Equipment built to Merchant Shipping Standards

Any radio, radar or navigation equipment type approved under the European Marine Equipment Directive (MED) has been entirely acceptable for use on all UK vessels since 1 January 1999 and will continue to be acceptable for the foreseeable future. Such equipment bears the Wheel Mark.

Equipment conforming to the requirements of the European Radio and Telecommunications Terminal (R&TTE) Directive

Since 8 April 2000, all new marine radio and radar equipment (apart from equipment with a Wheel Mark) has had to comply with the R&TTE Directive and the relevant UK Radio Interface Requirements. Such equipment may be supplied and licensed for use on small craft in the UK.

Such equipment must bear the CE Mark, the identification number of a Notified Body (where one has been consulted by the manu-facturer as part of the conformity assessment procedure) and the Alert Symbol (which signifies that there may be restrictions gover-ning its use or that the equipment may not necessarily be put into service in all EU States).

The equipment must be accompanied by:

1. A copy of the Declaration of Conformance to the require-ments of the R&TTE Directive (or a simplified Statement of Compliance and information on where the formal Declaration of Conformance may be found).
2. Information on its intended use, including the countries of the EU in which the equipment may be put into service.

Equipment, which additionally meets the requirements of any of the European Standards (ETS or EN) or International standards (IEC) listed below, is recommended.

Equipment previously approved under National Type Approval arrangements

It is still permissible to sell equipment Type Approved prior to 8 April 2000, and some may have still been on the market when the R&TTE Directive came fully into force on 8 April 2001. This equipment will have been Type Approved to one or more of the standards listed below and customers are advised to confirm this with the supplier. Nationally Type Approved equipment may continue to be licensed and installed on small craft after 8 April 2001. However, further supplies of such equipment may not be transferred from manufacturers or importers to retailers. There are no mandatory type approval require-ments applicable to small craft receive-only radio equipment sold up until 7 April 2001.

Technical Standards applicable to Maritime Radio Equipment

UK National MPT Series
(Now discontinued but valid for equipment placed on the market before 7 April 2001)

European Standards

UK Radio Interface Requirements applicable to Maritime Radio Equipment for Small Craft under the R&TTE Directive

Radio Interface Requirements are high level descriptions of how the spectrum should be used. They typically consist of the require-ments related to intentional transmissions in allocated freq-uency bands. They do not prescribe technical interpretations of the essential requirements of the R&TTE Directive. Some of the Radio Interface Requirements listed below may be in draft form or in the process of being published. The documents and a more comprehensive list are available on the Agency's website: www.radio.gov.uk

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Q&A (Just the Facts)

Q I am in the process of selling my boat but the licence is due to run out beforehand. Can I renew the existing licence and transfer it to the new owner?

A No, because the radio licence is not transferable between persons or vessels. After the sale is complete the new owner should apply for a licence to operate any radio equipment fitted.

Q Why do I have to give irrelevant information such as "tonnage" and "amount of lifeboats" on a radio licence application form?

A This information is requested as the Agency's database is used to supply information about UK vessels to the ITU's Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS) Database. This database is available to Search and Rescue organisations worldwide.

Q Can a dealer apply for a licence or an MMSI number on my behalf?

A No, the licence and MMSI number must be applied for by the licensee. This is because under the Data Protection Act we can only release details of licences to certain organisations as detailed on the application form.

Q Is it possible to use Maritime radio "legally" ashore from a coastal location and does my ship radio licence cover this use?

A While you can use Maritime radio from a coastal location a Ship Radio Licence does NOT cover this use. A Coastal Station Radio (CSR) licence must be applied for; a CSR licence allows operation only on certain specific frequencies. For more information on CSR licensing, download form RA290 from the RA website at www.radio.gov.uk or ring the RA library on tel: 020 7211 0502 for a paper copy.

Q My vessel is registered under a Foreign Flag State, how do I get an MMSI number?

A You will either have to apply to that administration for an MMSI OR register it under the UK flag and apply for a UK Ship Fixed Radio Licence and MMSI.

Q I deliver boats worldwide and I have a current transportable licence but would like to purchase a 406 MHz EPIRB to keep in my emergency grab-bag, does my transportable licence cover it?

A Until recently the answer was NO, however, the Agency has replaced the Maritime Transportable Radio Licence, with the Ship Portable Radio Licence which covers use of either a portable VHF or VHF/DSC radio and an EPIRB/PLB. A portable VHF/DSC radio will be issued with a Portable MMSI number.

Q When should I buy a GMDSS compatible VHF/DSC radio for my boat?

A The general advice for pleasure craft users at present from the MCA is: As HMCG has confirmed its intent to monitor VHF Channel 16 until 31st January 2005 pleasure craft have some breathing space. However if you are considering the purchase of new VHF set at present it has only been legal for dealers to sell either DSC or DSC compatible radios since April 2001.

Q Do I need an operator's certificate to have a Maritime radio transceiver on my boat?

A No, a marine radio can legally be "available for use" on a vessel provided the owner has obtained a Ship Radio Licence. The radio can be used for receive-only purposes by persons who do not hold the appropriate certificate of competence and Authority to Operate. This requirement does not prevent the use of the radio to summon assistance in a DISTRESS situation.

Q My company operates a fleet of vessels in the UK, we have upgraded our vessel equipment to GMDSS compatible DSC equipment. Will I need to upgrade my CSR equipment as well?

A Only if you use Channel 16 for calling your vessels. Under the GMDSS Channel 16 is a working frequency for Distress and Safety and should not be used for calling.

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Sources of information

Radio licensing

Aeronautical & Maritime Section
Manager: Mike Martin, 020 7211 0225,
E-mail: mike.martin@ra.gsi.gov.uk

General maritime licensing policy enquiries

Inc. Ships, Coastal Station Radio (CSR) application forms, Navigational Aids & RADAR licence processing:
contact AMS on 020 7211 0215/17 or e-mail us on AMS@ra.gsi.gov.uk

Ship Radio Licence processing enquiries

Inc. application forms, changes of customer details etc:
The Radio Licensing Centre, PO Box 1495, Bristol, BS99 3QS.
Tel: 0870 243 4433 Fax: 0117 975 8911 or visit www.radiolicencecentre.co.uk/

Maritime Radio Operators' Certification

For general information on Marine Radio Operator's Certificates and the GMDSS contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on 0870 600 6505 or visit www.mcagency.org.uk

For details of the Short Range Certificate (GMDSS, VHF) contact the Royal Yachting Association on 02380 627 400 or visit www.rya.org.uk

For details of the Long Range Certificate, (GMDSS, VHF, MF, HF and satellite communications), Restricted Operator's Certificate and the General Operator's Certificate contact the Association of Marine Electronic & Radio Colleges on 01539 440 218 or visit www.amerc.ac.uk

MCA EPIRB Registry

For details about registration of 406 MHz EPIRBs contact the EPIRB Registry on 01326 211 569

Inmarsat Ltd

For details on Inmarsat satellite communications equipment contact Inmarsat on 020 7728 1777

The International Telecommunication Union

For further information about the ITU visit its website at www.itu.int

Information about the Agency

The Agency produces information sheets and publications on most aspects of its work. They are available from the Agency's website at www.radio.gov.uk or from the Agency library on 020 7211 0502/05, e-mail library@ra.gsi.gov.uk

It is also possible to subscribe (free of charge) to automatically receive updates and new releases of information sheets; details are also available from the library contacts above.

General

RA0 Current list of Agency publications.

RA206 RA Local Offices (for interference reports and CSR applications).

RA354 RA and its role in managing the radio spectrum.

Ships Radio

RA145 Ship Fixed Radio Licence application form (and guidance notes).

RA385 Ship Portable Radio Licence application form (and guidance notes). NEW

RA258 EPIRBs- use custody and control (includes a 406MHz EPIRB registration form).

RA264 Use of International Maritime VHF channels.

RA273 Channel 16- Non GMDSS, VHF Radio Telephone guidelines on use.

RA292 Non GMDSS Marine Radio telephone procedures.

RA364 Ship Radio Licence information sheet.

Maritime Radio Suppliers

RA389 Maritime Radio Suppliers licence application form. NEW

Coastal Station Radio

RA276 Coastal station Radio application form.

RA290 Coastal Station Radio information sheet.

Navigational Aids

RA277 Maritime Navigational Aids & Radar Licence application form.

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